FINALLY our much anticipated 2008 Bermuda Music Festival is here. The chart-topping and award-winning R&B group, The Whispers, opened the batting for the festival and provided an excellent start. I'm disappointed that I could not get tickets for The Whispers because I really wanted to see them but we all know that those few hundred tickets were gone during the first hour that the tickets went on sale.

People obviously knew that The Whispers was a must-see event. They have seven gold albums, two platinum albums, 12 Top 20 singles and 40 charted hits during their heyday. The festival will now really get going when Beyonce, UB40, Alicia Keys and Bermuda's own Collie Buddz hit the stage.

More on this after the Top 20.

Soaring to number one is When I Grow Up by The Pussycat Dolls, one of the hottest, sexiest and most creative groups around.

Up to number two is Give It To Me by Madonna, a kicking dance track.

Spotlight, by American Idol diva Jennifer Hudson, advances to number three. The early reviews of her recently-released CD are excellent stating that it is a collector's item with many hits.

Falling to number four is Take A Bow, a sad love story by Rihanna.

Down to number five is Defence (the anthem) by Machel Montano featuring Lil Jon and Pitbull.

Tumbling to number six is Love Is Wicked (Soca Remix) by Brick and Lace featuring Kess.

At number seven is Road Jam,a soca kicker by recent visitor Shurwayne Winchester.

Up to number eight is Jazmine Sullivan with her new hit entitled Need You Bad.

Improving to number nine is Disturbia by hot girl Rihanna, a smooth dance track that currently sits atop international dance charts.

Climbing to number ten is The Business by Yung Berg featuring Casha, a current hip hop fave.

Improving to number 11 is Whatever You Like by T.I.

Up to number 12 is Can't Believe It by T-Pain and Lil Wayne.

Down to number 13 is Put On by Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West.

Falling to number 14 is Heaven Sent by Keyshia Cole.

Down to number 15 is Trey Songz' new hit, entitled Last Time.

Entering at number 16 is She's Royal by Taurus Riley, one of the coolest reggae songs of the year and this week's essential new tune. It's beautiful because it celebrates women, a refreshing change from some of the music that has been released over the past ten years or so.

Another new track entering the line up at number 17 is the new hit from Ne-Yo, entitled Closer. This one has been around for a while but a new remix has put it back in the charts.

Also new at number 18 is a kicking dance track by Natasha Beddingfield, entitled Angel.

Falling to number 19 is Chris Brown's single, Take You Down.

Dropping to number 20 is Fall by Kimberley Locke.

Now back to this week's words: the best Bermuda Music Festival yet. This has to be the best line up we've ever had. If you think The Whispers are hot, just wait until you hear Beyonce, UB40, Collie Buddz and Alicia Keys. I haven't even mentioned Lyfe Jennings yet. Sure, there are the headliners but you have to also like the other stars who will be performing.

I'm hoping that Bermuda gives our own homegrown superstar, Collie Buddz, some love. He has made good for Bermuda and while I don't agree with his stance on marijuana and/or the lyrics which promote the smoking of it, I do like his music and his beats are hotter than hot. Let's give it up and make him truly "Feel the Love".

In reality, we should let all of the entertainers, including the other Bermudian acts, Feel the Love. Bermudian audiences can be dull, boring, too cool, laid back, uninspired and difficult to please at times. But, this time, let's all be totally into the shows; let our hair down, express excitement, dance in our seats, sing along, enjoy the experience, support the entertainers and create the conditions for a good time to be had by all.

The team at the Bermuda Department of Tourism deserve praise for producing an outstanding line up and staging a good show. Hopefully, the rain holds off for the weekend and doesn't cause any cancellations, so that people can get value for the money we spent on the expensive tickets we all bought to see these shows. Let's not kid ourselves - the shows are not cheap and when compared with similar shows overseas, are actually quite expensive. However, it is what it is and we all had the choice to not purchase tickets. Those of us who chose to purchase tickets must have it like that. Although it's a bit late for this, I'm hoping that people did not cause their children to suffer or do without anything just so that they could purchase Music Festival tickets.

It is important to state here that we must all have priorities and everybody can't afford to go to the show. If you have to go without buying food for a week or if you can't afford to buy your child a new uniform or something important for school because you had to buy Music Festival tickets - you obviously are not in a position to afford them and shouldn't be maxing out your credit cards. That is an example of having one's priorities in the wrong order.

In any event, let's have a good, safe, successful Bermuda Festival weekend and let's hope that the shows all go off as planned.

What I'd like to happen, is for the organisers to be able to tell us who the headliners will be for 2009. But, maybe I'm asking too much! Its just that if you have a captive audience, you might like to use that opportunity to say something like "we are in discussions with so and so, and so and so regarding their availability to perform here next year".That would be way cool and is something to strive for either this weekend or for next time.

Hasta luego ... and peace!